Gender & Sexual Harassment Cell

• To prevent sexual harassment and to promote the general well-being of female students/employees of the Institute.
• To provide a healthy and safe environment in the Institute for female students / employees.
• To provide guidelines for the redressal of grievances related to sexual harassment of female students/employees of the institution.

• To sustain the dignity of women.
• To facilitate a congenial working environment so that any female employee is not subjected to gender-specific discrimination.
• To consider complaints of grievances from female teaching staff, non-teaching staff, and students and investigate them thoroughly within the stipulated time.
• To ensure confidentiality and time-bound response to complaints.
• To heighten awareness and sensitivity to this important issue amongst all female staff and students through organized motivational and developmental activities.

• To ensure implementation of these Directions as may be laid down in the University and other constituents to which it is applicable.
• To process individual grievances concerning sexual harassment in University departments/Administration/Authorities and to recommend suitable action in the manner and mode particularly provided hereafter.
• To exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be conferred or imposed on it by or under these Directions.
• To do all such acts and things as may be necessary to carry out the objects of these Directions.

• 1
  Any woman employee/female student of the University Departments/Schools/Administration/Authority shall have the right to lodge a complaint with any of the members of the Cell.
• 2
  Such complaints may be oral or in writing.
• 3
  Any complaint in writing shall be signed by the person making the complaint. If the complaint is oral, the same shall be documented in writing in detail by the Cell member to whom the complaint is made and shall not be acted upon till signed by the complainant. A Complaint Register shall be maintained by the Complaints Committee as a confidential document.
• 4
  The complainant shall be afforded full confidentiality at this stage.
• 5
  In the event of the complaint being made to any member of the Cell, immediately upon receipt of the complaint, and within not more than ten working days, the member of the Cell to whom the complaint is made shall communicate the same to the Chairperson of the Cell. If the complainant so desires, her name shall be kept confidential and shall not be divulged except to the Cell.
• 6
  Within a period of three weeks from the date of such communication, the Chairperson shall convene its meeting.
• 7
  In case the Cell decides to proceed with the complaint, the wishes of the complainant shall be ascertained. If the complainant wishes that a warning would suffice, then the alleged offender shall be called to the meeting of the Cell, heard, and if satisfied that a warning is just and proper, it will be recommended to the competent authority/Director that he be warned about his behaviour. The matter shall then be treated as concluded with an entry made in the Complaint Register and necessary notes entered into the Service Book of the employee / Record of the student.
• 8
  The Cell shall accord fair and reasonable opportunity to the delinquent to defend himself and shall ensure strict observance of the principles of natural justice.

The Gender & Sexual Harassment Cell is composed of a Convener, faculty representatives, administrative staff, and an external social empowerment representative: